Opinion: Match & Show Ratings for April 3 to April 9, 2022

Welcome to TPWW’s Emperor Smeat’s Match and Show Ratings for the week of April 3rd to April 9th, 2022.

Match and show star ratings (out of 5):

WWE

WWE WrestleMania 38 Night 2 (April 3)
* RAW Tag Team Championship Triple Threat – Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. Alpha Academy (Otis & Chad Gable) vs. RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Riddle) (c) – 3.5
* Omos vs. Bobby Lashley – 2.0
* Anything Goes match – Sami Zayn vs. Johnny Knoxville – 3.5
* Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-way match – Naomi & Sasha Banks vs. Liv Morgan & Rhea Ripley vs. Shayna Baszler & Natayla vs. Carmella & Queen Zelina (c) – 3.0
* AJ Styles vs. Edge – 2.5
* Ridge Holland & Sheamus vs. New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) – 1.5
* Austin Theory vs. Pat McAfee – 3.0
* Pat McAfee vs. Vince McMahon – 0.5 (Squash)
* Universal Championship & WWE Championship unification match – Roman Reigns (Universal) vs. Brock Lesnar (WWE) – 3.0
Overall – 3.0
Best – Sami Zayn vs. Johnny Knoxville match.
Worst – Pat McAfee vs. Vince McMahon match.
Show Notes – Opening Triple H’s wrestling boots retirement segment was nice. RAW Tag title match notable moments: Ford’s sunset dive over the post to RK-Bro & AA on the outside. Gable’s moonsault to everyone on the outside. Orton’s back drop to Ford onto the announcer’s table. Street Profits double team Blockbuster to Gable. Riddle’s springboard RKO to Ford off the top rope. Orton’s RKO outta nowhere finisher counter of Gable’s Splash. Match itself was a very good action filled bout. Omos vs. Lashley was somewhat decent at best. Zayn vs. Knoxville notable moments: Zayn’s Exploder Suplex to Knoxville through a table in the corner. Pontius’ randomly dancing & stripping down to a thong in the ring was funny. Wee Man’s brawl & suplex to Zayn. Knoxville setting off pyro on the corner post crotching Zayn in the process. Ouch at Zayn’s nuts after Knoxville’s bowling ball toss & fake leg kick machine. Knoxville chucking Zayn off the corner through a mouse traps table on the outside. Knoxville’s taser & giant mouse trap attack combo to Zayn. Match itself was a very entertaining comedic filled bout. Women’s Tag titles match notable moments: Banks & Morgan’s stereo dives to everyone else on the outside. Carmella’s top rope rana counter of Ripley’s powerbomb. Morgan & Ripley’s stereo Tower of Doom. Naomi’s wheelbarrow facebuster & Banks’ knee buster finisher combo to Carmella. Match itself was a pretty good action filled bout. Styles vs. Edge notable moments: Edge’s Brood style rising throne entrance was cool. Edge’s knees counter of Styles’ springboard 450 splash. Styles’ suplex counter into the corner of Edge’s suplex. Styles’ release German to Edge bending him in half. Styles’ top rope suplex to Edge onto the apron. Edge’s spear counter of Styles’ Phenomenal Forearm. Match itself was somewhat good despite being a bit dull at times, dragging too long, & lame shenanigans ending by Damian Priest. Holland & Sheamus vs. New Day was a mostly nothing match & made no sense to get cut from Day 1 based on how very short it was. Theory vs. McAfee notable moments: McAfee’s leaping rana to Theory. McAfee’s suplex counter of Theory’s suplex. Theory’s dodge counter of McAfee’s Swanton. Theory’s spinning back drop to McAfee. McAfee’s leap up superplex to Theory. Match itself was an entertaining bout & splendid performance by McAfee. Theory’s Scott Hall style sell & McMahon’s all-time worst tier sell of Stone Cold’s Stunner were the only good parts about McAfee vs. McMahon being one of the worst ever matches in Mania history. Universal & WWE title unification match notable moments: Reigns’ spear to Lesnar through the timekeepers area barricade. Lesnar’s release German suplex counter of Reigns’ Superman Punch. Lesnar’s F5 counter of Reigns’ spear. Reigns’ ref distracted low blow to Lesnar. Lesnar’s Kimura Lock counter of Reigns’ spear. Match itself was mostly good despite the flat ending but was also underwhelming in terms of “Biggest WrestleMania Match Ever” moniker. WrestleMania 38 Night 2 was a mostly enjoyable show but also the weaker of the two nights.

WWE RAW “RAW After Mania” (April 4)
* Women’s Tag Team Championship Contender’s match – Naomi & Sasha Banks vs. Liv Morgan & Rhea Ripley – 2.5
* Dominik Mysterio vs. The Miz – 1.5
* NXT Championship – Bron Breakker vs. Dolph Ziggler (c) – 3.0
* 6-Man Tag Team match – RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Riddle) & Finn Balor vs. The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) & Austin Theory – 3.0
* Texas Tornado match – Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. Alpha Academy (Otis & Chad Gable) – 2.5
Overall – 3.0
Best – Kevin Owens & Ezekiel’s in-ring promo segment.
Worst – Queen Zelina & Carmella in-ring promo segment with Corey Graves and the lack of traditional post-Mania surprise debuts and NXT call-ups.
Show Notes – The flat crowd reaction to Cody Rhodes’ entrance was a bit funny. Opening Rhodes’ promo about his decision to return WWE and WWE title goal to honor his dad, interruption by Rollins, & handshake was all right despite dragging long. Women’s tag was a solid back-and-forth match. Post-match Ripley tease of a team breakup with Morgan was interesting. Owens’ angry promo about his loss to Steve Austin at Mania, interruption by Ezikel … Elias’s new look & persona in regards to how drasticly he changed is bonkers, & banter between the two was all right. Bianca Belair’s promo about her RAW Women’s title win at Mania was all right but yikes at her messed up bruised eye. NXT title match notable moments: Breakker’s catch & spinebuster combo of Ziggler’s leap attack. Ziggler’s dropkick to Breakker off the turnbuckle sending him tumbling to the floor. Breakker’s sit-out powerbomb counter of Ziggler’s Fameasser. Breakker’s spear & powerslam finisher combo to Ziggler. Match itself was good back-and-forth action bout. Lashley promo about his win over Omos, interruption by Omos, & MVP’s ambush attack on Lashley was decent at best. Zelina’s promo trashing Carmella and hitting on Corey Graves, Carmella’s insults retort, & Carmella & Graves makeup session was cringey. 6-Man Tag notable moments: Theory’s leg swipe counter of Riddle’s springboard moonsault. Jimmy’s pop-up neckbreaker to Riddle. Jey’s superkick counter of Riddle Flying Nothing. Match itself was pretty good. Edge’s dark moody lights promo about his win over AJ Styles and Damian Priest joining him, Priest’s reasons for teaming with Edge, & interruption brawl by Styles was somewhat decent but the crowd chanting “we are sheep”, “we don’t care”, and “we are losers” during it was funny. Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy notable moments: Gable’s Fisherman suplex to Ford. Dawkins’ punch & Ford’s Frog Splash finisher combo to Gable through a table. Match itself was a solid back-and-forth bout. Paul Heyman’s promo boasting about the Bloodline & Reigns’ WWE box office generating records & Reigns response about beating Lesnar at Mania was a bit dull. This week’s RAW After Mania show was mostly enjoyable overall.

NXT (April 5)
* Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) vs. Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed) – 3.0
* Dexter Lumis vs. Duke Hudson – 2.0
* NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship – Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) vs. Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai (c) – 3.0
* Nikkita Lyons vs. Lash Legends – 2.5
* NXT Championship – Gunther vs. Bron Breakker (c) – 3.5
Overall – 3.0
Best – NXT Championship match.
Worst – The lame ending to the Dexter Lumis vs. Duke Hudson match and Wade Barrett going overboard with his horny commentary throughout the show.
Show Notes – Opening Breakker’s promo about regaining his NXT title, interruption by skinny Gunther demanding a title shot, & Breakker accepting was all right. Imperium vs. Creed Bros notable moments: Julius’ using Brutus as a weapon & slamming him onto a prone Aichner. Aichner’s catch & Finlay Roll counter of Julius’ leap attack. Brutus chucking Barthel over the ropes into Aichner’s bodyslam to Brutus onto the ropes. Aichner randomly walking out of the match was weird but also interesting. Match itself was a good hard hitting bout despite the weird ending sequence. Pretty Deadly’s post-match attack & reveal as the Creed Bros’ mystery masked attackers was decent. Cameron Grimes’ promo about his NA title win and fulfilling his promise to his late father, interruption by Solo Sikoa asking for a title shot, & Grimes accepting was splendid. Tiffany Stratton annoying backstage interview about her issues with Sarray was corny. Lumis vs. Hudson was somewhat decent despite the lame countout shenanigans by Hartwell & Pirotta. NXT Women’s Tag title match notable moments: Gonzalez’s spinning powerslam to Dolin. Jayne’s Tree of Woe cannonball to Gonzalez in the corner. Jayne’s Code Breaker & Dolin’s clothesline combo to Kai. Match itself was pretty good despite the lame ending shenanigans by Mandy Rose & Wendy Choo. Gonzalez & Kai’s Tag title reigns ended up being a big waste of time due to NXT Creative’s dumb booking. Joe Gacy’s creepy backstage promo segments about family, self destruction, & chaos was fine. Tony D’Angelo’s Don of NXT ceremony segment was a bit rough. NXT title match notable moments: Gunther’s leap & big boot combo to Breakker. Breakker’s powerslam counter of Gunther’s leap over. Gunther’s stiff chops fest to Breakker. Gunther’s dropkick & powerbomb combo to Breakker. Breakker’s spear counter of Gunther’s Flying Nothing. Breakker’s military press & powerslam finisher combo to Gunther. Match itself was a very good hard fought action bout. Gacy & Harland kidnapping Breakker’s father Rick Steiner was interesting. This week’s show was mostly enjoyable overall despite some questionable booking decisions.

Friday Night SmackDown (April 8)
* Butch vs. Xavier Woods – 2.5
* Gunther vs. Joe Alonzo – 2.0 (Squash)
* Drew McIntyre vs Sami Zayn – 2.0 (Squash)
* Sasha Banks vs. Liv Morgan – 3.0
Overall – 2.0
Best – Sami Zayn & Adam Pearce backstage segment.
Worst – Opening Ronda Rousey & Charlotte Flair promo segment.
Show Notes – Opening Ronda Rousey interview about her loss to Charlotte Flair at Mania and demanding a SD Women’s title match & interruption mocking response by Flair was dull. New Day pre-match promo mocking Sheamus & Pals for their win at Mania & claiming it doesn’t count anymore because WWE records reset after Mania was a bit corny. Butch vs. Woods notable moments: Butch’s suplex toss to Woods onto the apron. Match itself was a mostly solid back-and-forth bout. Zayn & Adam Pearce backstage segment about Zayn’s grievances over the unfair shenanigans during his match against Knoxville, becoming fond of cheese, & match setup with McIntyre was funny. Marcel Barthel getting the abrupt WWE name change treatment to Ludwig Kaiser was dumb & same for WWE recently changing Imperium’s theme to something generic now. Gunther vs. Alonzo was a fine jobber destruction match. Raquel Gonzalez’s surprise SD debut was cool but Los Lotharios’ interruption of her backstage interview for a smooch was a bit cringey. Happy Talk segment about Corbin being devastated and blaming Madcap Moss for his loss to McIntyre, response by Moss, Corbin’s jealously claims, lame jokes by Moss, & brawl was all right. McIntyre was a decent squash match despite the lame countout ending. Lacey Evans’ backstage promo about her tough life upbringing & road to WWE career was all right. Morgan’s backstage pre-match interview about why she’s on SD tonight & Rhea Ripley’s absence was decent. Banks vs. Morgan notable moments: Banks’ backstabber counter of Morgan’s dropkick to the ropes. Banks’ Frog Splash to Morgan. Banks kick to Morgan’s face into Morgan’s knee buster to Banks in return. Banks’ superplex to Morgan into Morgan’s surprise roll-up finisher. Match itself was a pretty good brief bout despite the abrupt ending. Roman Reigns’ promo about his WWE title win and his goal for Usos to become unified tag champs like himself, interruption by Shinsuke Nakamura, hug by Reigns to Nakamura, & sneak attack by Usos was all right. This week’s show was average at best overall but also somewhat skippable.

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AEW

AEW Dark Elevation (April 4)
* Leyla Hirsch vs. Ella Envy – 2.0 (Squash)
* The Factory (Aaron Solo & QT Marshall) vs. Brock Anderson & Lee Johnson – 3.0
* Serena Deeb vs. Dani Mo – 2.0 (Squash)
* Frankie Kazarian vs. Lucky Ali – 2.5
* Red Velvet vs. Brittany Jade – 2.0 (Squash)
* The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry) vs. Best Friends (Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor) – 3.0
* Ashley D’Amboise & Diamante vs. Ruby Soho & Anna Jay – 2.5
* Paul Wight vs. Austin Green – 2.0 (Squash)
Overall – 3.0
Best – The WorkHorsemen vs. Best Friends match.
Worst – N/A
Show Notes – Hirsch vs. Envy opener was a decent squash style bout. Factory vs. Anderson & Johnson notable moments: Johnson’s escape & leaping neckbreaker combo counter of Marshall’s back drop. Anderson’s Doctor Bomb to Solo. Marshall’s guillotine & Solo’s spinning heel kick combo to Anderson. Johnson’s superkick & Anderson’s spinebuster finisher combo to Solo. Match itself was a pretty good back-and-forth action bout, especially the latter half. Deeb vs. Mo was a decent squash match. Kazarian vs. Ali notable moments: Kazarian’s stiff chops & running Russian Leg Sweep combo to Ali. Ali’s modified neckbreaker to Kazarian via chin assist. Ali’s back suplex & standing senton combo to Kazarian. Kazarian’s slingshot cutter & Chicken Wing Crossface finisher combo to Ali. Match itself was a solid back-and-forth bout. Red Velvet vs. Jade was a decent mostly squash match. WorkHorsemen vs. Best Friends notable moments: Henry’s whip, Drake’s gut buster hold, & Henry’s double foot stomp combo to Taylor. Beretta’s Saito Suplex bending Henry in half. Drake’s dodge & slingshot club shot to the apron rope combo counter of Beretta’s plancha to the outside. WorkHorsemen’s catch & slingshot hold, superkick, & double foot stomp combo counter of Beretta’s Tornado DDT. Best Friends’ Sole Food & Half & half suplex combo to Drake. Match itself was an entertaining back-and-forth action filled bout. Women’s Tag notable moments: Jay’s release Northern Lights suplex to Diamante. Soho’s Destination Unknown finisher counter of D’Amboise’s finisher attempt. Match itself was solid. Wight vs. Green was a decent mostly squash bout. This week’s show was mostly enjoyable overall.

AEW Dark (April 5)
* Ryan Nemeth vs. Chandler Hopkins – 2.5
* Sonny Kiss vs. JP Harlow – 2.0 (Squash)
* Abadon vs. Hyena Hera – 2.0 (Squash)
* Cezar Bononi & Tiger Ruas vs. Luke Sampson & Guillermo Rosas – 2.0 (Squash)
* Lance Archer vs. Dean Alexander – 2.5
* The Factory (Aaron Solo & Nick Comoroto) vs. Dark Order (Alan “5” Angels & 10) – 3.0
Overall – 2.5
Best – The Factory vs. Dark Order match.
Worst – The very skippable card for this week’s show outside of the main event.
Show Notes – Nemeth vs. Hopkins opener notable moments: Nemeth’s headstand arm bar hold to Hopksins. Hopkins’ suplex & Falcon Arrow combo to Nemeth. Match itself was a solid back-and-forth bout. Kiss vs. Harlow was a decent mostly squash bout. Abadon vs. Hera was a decent squash style match. Sampson & Rosas vs. Bononi & Ruas notable moments: Ruas’ Saito suplex to Rosas & Bononi’s back drop to Sampson combo counter of Roas & Sampsons whip to the ropes. Match itself was an okay mostly squash bout. Archer vs. Alexander notable moments: Archer’s running crossbody to Alexander splatting him on the mat. Archer’s loud stiff chop to Alexander on the ropes. Archer’s ripcord Black Hole Slam to Alexander. Match itself was a solid hard hitting bout. The Factory vs. Dark Order notable moments: Angels’ running cannonball off the stage onto Solo during Dark Order’s entrance. 10’s slingshot German suplex to Solo. Comoroto’s catch counter of Angel’s top rope splash into 10’s big boot to Comoroto causing Angels to fall on him. Comoroto’s Ushigoroshi to Angels. Angels’ punches to Comoroto into Comoroto’s hard toss to Angels out of the ring into 10’s rolling elbow strike to Comoroto flooring him. QT Marshall’s ref distracted punch, Solo’s corkscrew kick, & Comoroto’s spear combo to Angels. Negative 1 pantsing Marshall after Marshall threatening to hit the ref with his pants belt was a bit funny. Angels’ lung blower & 10’s Full Nelson finisher combo to Solo. Match itself was a pretty good back-and-forth action bout. This week’s show was average at best overall but also skippable outside of the main event match.

AEW Dynamite (April 6)
* Adam Cole vs. Christian Cage – 4.0
* Owen Hart Foundation Women’s tournament Qualifier match – Samoa Joe vs. Max Caster – 3.0 (Squash)
* Shawn Spears vs. Capt. Shawn Dean – 2.0
* Tables match – The Butcher & The Blade vs. The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff Hardy) – 2.5
* Owen Hart Foundation Women’s tournament Qualifier match – Julia Hart vs. Hikaru Shida – 2.5
* ROH World Tag Team Championship & AAA World Tag Team Championship – Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) (c) – 4.5
Overall – 4.0
Best – ROH World Tag Team Championship & AAA World Tag Team Championship match.
Worst – The wonky booking for the rules of the tag team Tables match.
Show Notes – Cole vs. Cage opener notable moments: Cole’s Cheeky Nandos & Tree of Woe superkick counter of Cage’s top rope attack. Cage’s top rope splash to Cole on the outside. Cage’s Pendulum kick & Tornado DDT combo to Cole. Cage’s top rope rana to Cole. Cage’s dodge & spear counter of Cole’s The Boom. Cole’s eye poke & The Boom finisher combo to Cage. Match itself was an excellent hard fought action filled bout. Post-match brawl with reDRagon & Jurassic Express and AEW title match setup promo by Cole & Hangman Page was splendid. Caster’s feisty pre-match rap mocking Joe’s Impact career, injury prone issues, & dig at his last NXT title reign was awesome. Joe vs. Caster was an entertaining mostly squash bout. Post-match Sonjay Dutt & Lethal promo about their issues with Joe was all right. Spears vs. Dean notable moments: Spears’ brutal pumphandle neckbreaker to Dean. Wardlow’s destruction of AEW security was sweet. Match itself was somewhat decent despite the shenanigans ending. JAS and Kingston & Pals taped backstage brawl was a bit funny, especially Kingston chucking a giant TV at Jericho. Kingston & Pals heated promo trashing JAS and threatening beatdowns at their homes was splendid. Cargill’s promo about Cargill’s “Baddies section” & trashing Shafir and MMA fighters in wrestling was fine. Tables match was mostly entertaining despite being a mess as well. Rose vs. Rosa AEW Women’s title match hype video was fine. Hart vs. Shida was solid despite falling apart near the end. Post-match Shida & Sereena Deeb confrontation was all right. ROH & AAA Tag titles match notable moments: FTR’s stereo Sharpshooters to Young Bucks. Harwood’s suplex to Nick onto Matt. Matt & Harwood’s pins & counter pins exchange into Harwood’s spiked piledriver to Matt. Wheeler’s backdrop to Nick onto the apron. Nick’s top rope rana counter of FTR’s superplex & splash to Matt. Harwood’s brainbuster to Nick on the outside. Matt’s nut shot to Wheeler into Young Buck’s Big Rig to Wheeler. FTR’s slingshot powerbomb & Tombstone combo counter of Young Bucks Meltzer Driver. FTR’s BTE Trigger & cheek smooch to Matt. Match was a terrific hard fought action packed battle & strong MotY contender. This week’s show was mostly great despite the weaker second half.

AEW Rampage (April 8)
* Bryan Danielson vs. Trent Beretta – 4.0
* Swerve Strickland vs. QT Marshall – 3.0
* Owen Hart Foundation Women’s tournament Qualifier match – Willow Nightingale vs. Red Velvet – 2.5
* Wheeler Yuta vs. Jon Moxley – 4.5
Overall – 4.0
Best – Wheeler Yuta vs. Jon Moxley match.
Worst – The flat ending to the Willow Nightingale vs. Red Velvet match.
Show Notes – Danielson vs. Beretta opener notable moments: Danielson’s swift kick counter of Beretta’s plancha to the outside. Beretta’s catch & Saito suplex counter of Danielson’s dive to the outside. Daneilson’s enziguri to Beretta into Beretta’s deadlift German suplex to Danielson. Danielson’s brutal looking Dragon Sleeper to Beretta. Beretta’s Half & Half suplex & stiff lariat combo counter of Danielson’s discus lariat. Danielson’s Busaiku Knee & Gotch Style piledriver combo to Beretta. Danielson’s head stomps & neck twist LeBell Lock finisher combo to Beretta. Match itself was a great hard hitting action filled bout. Hook & Danhausen backstage locker room segment about Hook ignoring interviewer’s questions & chips bag toss counter of Danhausen’s curse attempt was all right. Scorpio Sky & Pals promo about Sky’s TNT title reign, Sammy Guevara & Tay Conti’s interruption response trashing Sky & Lambert, Lambert’s insults filled retort, & heated banter between the two groups was fine but their feud has been a bust so far for Guevara & Conti in terms of them being the faces for it. Strickland vs. Marshall was a pretty good back-and-forth match, especially the latter half. Marina Shafir vignette about her upcoming match against Jade Cargill was splendid. Nightingale vs. Red Velvet was mostly solid despite the flat ending. Moxley & Yuta’s heated split-screen pre-match backstage interview was splendid. Yuta vs. Moxley notable moments: Yuta’s dive through the ropes to Moxley during Moxley’s entrance was sweet. Moxley’s German suplex to Yuta bending him in half. Moxley’s curb stomp to Yuta on the steel steps. Yikes at Yuta’s extra bloody crimson mask. Yuta’s top rope splash to Moxley through a table on the outside. Yuta’s deadlift German suplex to Moxley. Yuta’s foot stomps to Moxley. Moxley’s stiff lariat to Yuta flooring him. Moxley’s boot & Paradigm Shift counter of Yuta’s Flying Nothing. Moxley’s overhead elbow strikes, Regal Knee, & Paradigm Shift combo counter of Yuta’s sleeper. Match itself was an terrific hard fought bloody battle & star making moment for Yuta. Post-match Regal & Yuta handshake moment was cool. This week’s show was mostly great overall.

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NJPW, Impact, & Other Wrestling

NJPW Hyper Battle 2022 (March 9)
* Gedo, Yujiro Takahashi, Chase Owens, & Bad Luck Fale vs. Jado, Guerillas of Destiny (Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga), & Hiroshi Tanahashi – 3.0
* Aaron Henare & Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito – 3.5
* IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship – El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori vs. Team Six or Nine (Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi) (c) – 3.0
* Provisional King of Pro Wrestling 2022 Championship No Rope Ring Out match – Taichi vs. Toru Yano (c) – 2.5
* NEVER Openweight Championship – Hiromu Takahashi vs. EVIL (c) – 3.0
* IWGP Tag Team Championship – Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto (c) – 3.5
* IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship – SHO vs. El Desperado (c) – 3.5
* IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Kazuchika Okada (c) – 4.5
Overall – 4.0
Best – IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match.
Worst – The overdone House of Torture style shenanigans & flat ending to the NEVER Openweight Championship match.
Show Notes – 8-Man Tag opener was a pretty good back-and-forth bout. Post-match Tanahashi offering Team NJPW shirts & GoD and Jado accepting was cool. United Empire vs. LIJ Tag notable moments: Ospreay’s spinning backbreaker to Takagi. Naito & Ospreay’s moves & counters fest exchange into a neckbreaker by Naito. Takagi & Ospreay’s fast paced moves & counters exchange into a leaping heel kick by Ospreay. Naito’s pop-up spinebuster to Ospreay. Match itself was a very good action filled bout. IWGP Jr. Tag title match notable moments: Ishimori’s double knees, Ishimori’s Code Breaker off ELP’s shoulders, & ELP’s moonsault combo to Wato. Match itself was a good back-and-forth action bout with some nice comedic moments. KoPW 2022 title match was a decent but entertaining sumo style bout. NEVER Openweight title match notable moments: Hiromu’s apron shotgun dropkicks to EVIL sending his crashing into the guard rail. Hiromu’s sunset bomb to EVIL onto Dick Togo. EVIL’s Fisherman Buster to Hiromu on the floor. EVIL’s Everything Is Evil finisher counter of Hiromu’s running attack. Match itself was mostly good despite the overdone shenanigans & flat ending. IWGP Tag title match notable moments: Goto’s dodge & lariat to Khan counter of Cobb’s lariat to the corner. Cobb’s whip to the corner & running back drop combo to Goto. Khan & Cobb’s double team Claw hold, Khan’s falling elbow drop, & Cobb’s standing moonsault combo to YOSHI. Cobb’s grab & Spin Cycle combo to YOSHI. YOSHI’s superkick & Destroyer combo to Cobb. Khan’s wrist clutch style Eliminator to YOSHI. Match itself was a very good hard fought action filled bout. IWGP Jr. title match notable moments: Despy’s running lariat to SHO sending him over the guard rail. SHO’s chair shot to the head counter of Despy’s dive attempt to the outside. Yikes at Despy’s ribs after his rough landing on the guard rail from SHO’s shove off the apron. Despy’s running cannonball to SHO on the outside. SHO’s sit-out arm bar & Snake Bite hold combo to Despy. SHO’s crossarm piledriver counter of Despy’s Pinche Loco. Despy’s swift punch & Pinche Loco finisher combo to SHO. Match itself was a mostly very good action filled bout despite the HoT shenanigans throughout it. IWGP World title match notable moments: Sabre Jr’s modified Octopus Hold counter of Okada’s neckbreaker into a neckbreaker by Okada. Okada’s Money Clip to Sabre Jr into Sabre Jr’s straight jacket counter into Okada’s Money Clip counter into Sabre Jr’s Cobra Twist counter. Sabre Jr’s flying Triangle hold counter of Okada’s shotgun dropkick. Sabre Jr’s rolling arm bar counter of Okada’s Rainmaker. Okada’s spiked Tombstone onto the floor counter of Sabre Jr’s running PK and slaps combo. Okada’s corkscrew Tombstone & spinning Rainmaker combo to Sabre Jr. Sabre Jr’s Zack Driver counter of Okada’s Rainmaker. Sabre Jr’s Rear Naked Choke counter of Okada’s Rainmaker. Okada’s Landslide & Rainmaker counter of Sabre Jr’s Zack Driver. Match itself was a fantastic hard fought action packed & grapple heavy battle. Hyper Battle 2022 was a mostly great show overall.

NJPW Strong Strong Style Evolved 2022 Night 2 (April 9)
* Andy Brown vs. Hikuleo – 3.0
* Karl Fredericks vs. Josh Alexander – 4.0
* Daniel Garcia & Fred Yehi vs. Eddie Kingston & Fred Rosser – 3.5
* Jay White vs. Chris Sabin – 4.0
Overall – 4.0
Best – Karl Fredericks vs. Josh Alexander match and the Jay White vs. Chris Sabin match.
Worst – The state of Chris Sabin’s chest after his match against Jay White.
Show Notes – Brown vs. Hikuleo opener notable moments: Brown’s running dropkick & senton combo to Hikuleo. Hikuleo’s catch, pop-up punch, & snap powerslam combo counter of Brown’s flying attack. Hikuleo’s brutal looking chokeslam finisher to Brown. Match itself was an entertaining bout. Fredericks vs. Alexander notable moments: Fredericks’ running Tope Con Giro to Alexander. Alexander’s chops & stomps fest to Fredericks in the corner. Fredericks’ running low dropkick to Alexander in the corner. Fredericks’ spinebuster & STF combo to Alexander. Alexander’s back drop to Fredericks on the apron. Fredericks & Alexander’s slugfest into Alexander’s ankle lock counter of Fredericks’ Pele Kick. Fredericks springboard double foot stomp to Alexander onto the ropes. Alexander’s elbow strike, release German suplex, & C4 Spike finisher combo counter of Fredericks’ running attack. Match itself was a great back-and-forth hard hitting action filled bout. Post-match QT Marshall’s surprise appearance and Factory offer to Fredericks & brawl with Factory & LA Dojo was splendid. Garcia & Yehi vs. Kingston & Rosser notable moments: Kingston’s STO to Yehi flooring him. Garcia’s Dragon Screw to Rosser. Kingston’s chops fest to Garcia in the corner. Kingston’s release Butterfly suplex to Garcia. Rosser’s powerslams combo to Yehi. Yehi’s stiff spinning backfist to Rosser. Kingston’s Uraken & Rosser’s Gut Check finisher combo to Yehi. Match itself was a very good hard hitting action filled bout. Sabin vs. White notable moments: Ouch at Sabin’s chest bleeding after White’s stiff chops. Sabin’s suicide dive to White on the outside. Sabin’s Russian Leg Sweep to White onto the guard rail. Yikes at Sabin’s bruised chest after White’s stiff chops fest. White’s backdrop suplex & gourdbuster to Sabin on the apron. White’s DDT to Sabin into Sabin’s Tornado DDT to White. White’s backdrop driver & Bladerunner combo counter of Sabin’s running attack. White’s Flatliner, deadlift release German, & Uranage combo to Sabin. White’s Bladerunner finisher combo of Sabin’s Cradle Shock. Match itself was a great hard fought action packed bout. This week’s show was great overall.

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Weekly Awards:

• Best match of the week – ROH World Tag Team Championship & AAA World Tag Team Championship – Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) (c) (AEW Dyamite)
• Best match of the week runner-up – IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Kazuchika Okada (c) (NJPW Hyper Battle 2022)
• Worst match of the week – Pat McAfee vs. Vince McMahon (WWE WrestleMania 38 Night 2)
• Worst match of the week runner-up – Dominik Mysterio vs. The Miz (WWE RAW)
• Best show of the week – NJPW Hyper Battle 2022
• Worst show of the week – WWE Friday Night SmackDown